Cannon shot

CANNON SHOT, war. The distance which a cannon will throw a ball. 2. The
whole space of the sea, within cannon shot of the coast, is considered as
making a part of the territory; and for that reason, a vessel taken under
the cannon of a neutral fortress, is not a lawful prize. Vatt. b. 1, c. 23,
s. 289, in finem Chitt. Law of Nat. 113; Mart. Law of Nat. b. 8, c. 6, s. 6;
3 Rob. Adm. Rep. 102, 336; 5 Id. 373; 3 Hagg. Adm. R. 257. This part of the
sea being considered as part of the adjacent territory, (q.v.) it follows
that magistrates can cause the orders of their governments to be executed
there. Three miles is considered as the greatest distance that the force of
gunpowder can carry a bomb or a ball. Azun. far. Law, part 2, c. 2, art. 2,
Sec. 15; Bouch. Inst. n. 1848. The anonymous author of the poem, Della
Natura, lib. 5, expresses this idea in the following lines: Tanto slavanza
in mar questo dominio, Quant esser puo d'antemurale e guardia, Fin dove puo
da terra in mar vibrandosi Correr di cavo bronzo acceso fulinine. Far as the
sovereign can defend his sway, Extends his empire o'er the watery way; The
shot sent thundering to the liquid plain, Assigns the limits of his just
domain. Vide League.

The expectation is not unreasonable, as previous recoveries, which included 12 other cannons from the wreck, yielded artifacts from their concretions such as cannon shot, gun flints, and other items of life aboard the vessel.

At 1300 hours on 26 December 2009, a cannon shot from one of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australias historic cannons, replicas of those aboard Captain Cook's bark Endeavour, will signal the start of the race.

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